Famed chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten's family has a signature mac and cheese recipe created by his wife, Marja. While this classic dish has been jazzed up by countless flavorings and ingredients at this point, her recipe keeps things simple, yet also ups the cheesy ante by using this creamy dairy staple.

The mac and cheese recipe can be found in Vongerichten's book "Home Cooking with Jean-Georges: My Favorite Simple Recipes." The pasta calls for four different types of shredded cheese — extra-sharp cheddar, sharp cheddar, mild yellow cheddar, and Monterey Jack — but the real star is the topping of cream cheese.

Right before baking the mac and cheese, the recipe calls for cold cream cheese cubes to be sprinkled over the top of the casserole, which will melt and bubble up in the oven. The result is a crispy, irresistible crust of shredded cheese occasionally broken up by pockets of gooey cream cheese, creating the ultimate comfort casserole.